Draft-gear.



1. F. COURSON.y

DRAFT GEAR APPLICATION FILED DEC. III I9I6.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented May 8, 1917.

1. F. COURSON.

DRAF GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED nic. II. 191e.

- 'oniTian sTnTns PATENT oTTTcn.

JTCDHN F. COURSON, F PlTCARN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAFT-GEAR.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that'l, JOHN F. CoURsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fitcairn, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful limprovements in Draft- Gears, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in draft gears of the class lutilizing springs and friction shoes, and expanding mechanism for the friction shoes, operable upon bufling or pulling, to eHect resistance to such strains through the mechanism inclosed within an embracing cylinder or casing.

The particular objects in view are to provide, in a gear of this type, means for distending thefriction shoes toward the casing with frictional engagement proportioned to the strain, utilizing wedge and lever mechanism. A further object is to provide for equal application of the frictional pressure throughout the length of the shoes.

The several objects are accomplished, in certain preferred forms of the apparatus, as more fully hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the complete gear as assembled, the parts being shown in normal extended position.l

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the gear in compression. n

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 111, 111, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of thei wedging follower.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the inner fulcruin bearing Wedge.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the expanding levers.

Fig. 7 is asimilar View of one of the friction shoes.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified construction.

Fig. 9 is a cross section ony the line 1X, 1X, of Fig. 8. p Fig. 10 is a perspective detail view of one of the segmental portions of the composite expanding wedge of Fig. 8.

-Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing a further modification Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1917.

Application filed December 11, 1916. Serial No. 136,141.

Fig. 12 is a cross section on the line X11, X11, of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a perspectiverdetail View of one of the expanding levers of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the friction shoes of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a perspective detail view of the inner expanding wedge of Fig. 11.

' 1n the drawings, 2 represents the drawbar of the coupler connected with the front end portions of side links 3 lby a transverse bolt or key 4, which extends through slots 5 in the front portions thereof, its ends preferably terminating within the inner faces of the center sills 7 of the car framing at eacn side, for longitudinal movement.

Links 3 are longitudinally slotted at their rear ends, as at 8, and engage lugs 9 of a casing or cylinder 10 mounted between the center sills 7 for limited movement in bui'ing.

Casing 10 is closed at its rear end and normally bears against a rear abutment 11 while a follower l12 at the front end is adapted to oppose forward movement of the casing in pulling. Said follower engages against abutment stops 13 of the center sills in forward movement under draft or pulling strains, and is receded by the rear end of diawbar 2 in bufling. l

Vithiii the casing are friction shoes 14 which bear by their inner ends against a spring or springs 15, said shoes having .inwardly extending wedge portions 16, with inner -wedge faces. A co-acting wedge 17 having faces 17 engages said wedge portions 16 and operates to distend the shoes by longitudinal movement of the wedge inwardly, or of the casing outwardly. 1 preferably provide the forward portion of wedge 17 with a central stud or spur 18 against the base of which at each side bear the inner preferably rounded ends of a series of eX- panding levers 19. These levers extend forwardly and bear by their front terminals against the tapering faces of a central pyramidal wedge 2O of follower 12. Fach friction shoe 14 is provided on its front innerportion with a projecting bearing boss or lug 22 and the outer engaging portion of each lever 19 is preferably slightly concaved as at 23 to p rovide a seat for lug 22, to insure snug fitting.

due to the absence of any acute angle wedges.

g f 1,225,111 U.

In operation, inward movement of the fol- 19b bear by their inner rounded terminals in lower l2 1n buiiing, or outward movement corresponding rounded recesses or sockets of the casing in pulling, effects a spreading 22h, and by their forward ends abut directly action of levers 19 due to wedge. 2O and a against the rear flat face of follower 12b. resulting expansion of the friction shoes. Wedge member 17 b is provided with the in- At` the same time the inner ends of levers ner wedge faces 171 asalready described, 19 thrust the inner wedge 17 and its faces engaging the inner portions of the friction '17 inwardly effecting spreading of the inner shoes 14h, and said member extends forends of the frlctlon shoes, so that lthey are wardly by a truncated pyramidal extension thus expanded hequallyl throughout their 18b as shown. lThis extension isfpreferably length. The resulting frlctlonal engagement rounded somewhat as to each of its convergis in a ratio proportionate to the buiiing or ing faces, as shown in Fig.- 15, and each face pulling strains, while the free release of the bears against the inner rounded face 19bb of parts is insured on cessation of the strains, lever vvmember 19".

It will be observed that the spreading action either in bufling or pulling, by the spreadingof the follower wedge, acting on the levers, effect ofthe faces of extension 18 againstv multiplies the effective action of the wedge l`the lever members, their outer ends bearing to a .considerable degree. directly against the follower and resulting `In Fig. 8,' I show a modified constructionl in a high degree of developed outward pres-v and arrangement in which I substitute sure, somewhat in the manner of a-toggle wedge-shaped members 19a for the distend-l joint, which pressure is transmitted to the.

ing levers 19, and which bear by their inner friction shoes. J. rlhe other parts of the gear rounded terminals against the taperedconare similar to those yalready described and faces 17a adapted to engage and distend the 3 0 f l as will be readily understood.

fronting faces of a forwardly extending indicated by corresponding numerals having wedge 18a. This wedge element is a part the exponent b.

of the member 17a, having, like wedge 17 above described, inwardly extending wedge claim is:

' l. A draft gear consisting of a casing, inwardly disposed portionsll1 of shoes 14a',

I adapted to distend the friction shoes, a draw yThe friction lshoes are provided with the :bar and follower in operative relation to the inwardly extending rounded bosses 22a casing, and lever members between said against whichl bear the outer straight faces,- wedge and the follower engaging and adaptof the members 19a, and these members are ed'to exert a radial pressurevon the frictlon also preferably slightly rounded on their i shoes. v 'i front ends, as indicated at 19m.` They abut 2. A draftgear consisting of a casing, directly against the rear continuously ilat friction shoes within the casing havingl inface of follower 12a and are driven inwardly wardly, -extending wedge port-lons at their ment the l.being segmental-shaped in cross-section, as

upon inward movement of the follower in rear ends, a wedge engaging-said portions,

face of the follower, 'and with either movetothe casing, and lever members engaging effect a 4spreading action of the said-wedge, follower, and friction shoes refriction s oes throughout their entire length, spectively, and operable to exert a vradial due to the wedgng` action.` Members 19a, pressure on the friction shoes.

3. Adraft gear consistingof a` casing, indicated in Fig. 10, converge at a common friction shoes within the casing having in- In action, the friction shoes are distended,

Having described my invention, what I friction shoes within the casing, a wedge- 105 buifing. In pulling, they are vresisted by the a drawbar and follower in operative relation meeting point by` their inner.forward terterior rounded bearing portions, a wedge cated b numerals having the exponent a minalsv19 and lie plosely adjacent in an adapted to distend the friction shoes, a drawf assembled or nested position, providing a bar and follower in operative relation to the composite wedging lever member. In action,A casing, and lever members engaging sald each particular member of the composite wedge and follower and the rounded bear# series, like levers 19, is capable of automatic ing portions of the friction shoes respecadjustment while accommodating itself vto tively.

the lother parts, providing suilicient flexifor having oppositely disposedsupporting against any lost motion or mis-application portions, a drawbar and follower 1n operaof power. I

The other parts of the gear are similarto tive relation ,to the casing, and lever mem those above described and similarly indibers engaging said wedge, follower and friction shoes respectively, and operable to ex- InFig. 11, I show a still further modified ert a radial pressure on the friction shoes. form inI which the construction and arrange- 5. In combination, a caslng, friction shoes ment of the parts is generallysimilar to that within the casing, a distending wedge thereabove described, except that the members Y for havlng a lever bearlng portion, a foln 4. In combinat1on,a casing, friction shoesv bility in the entire structure to insure within the casing, a distending wedge therelower having an inwardly extending wedge,

a drawbar in operative relation to the casing and follower, and lever members engaging said Wedges and the friction shoes respectively. f

6. ln combination, a casing, friction shoes within the casing, a distending wedge therefor having a lever bearing portion, lever members engaging the friction shoes and wedge, a follower coacting with said lever members and Wedge to separate the lever members, a drawbar engaging the follower and connected with the casing, and a spring lwithin the casing engaging the friction shoes.

7. A draft gear consisting of a casing, friction shoes within the casing having inwardly extending Wedge portions at their rear ends, a centrally arranged wedge engaging said portions, lever members engaging the friction shoes and said wedge and operable to exert a. radial pressure on the friction shoes, a drawbar connected with the casing, and a resisting element interposed between the drawbar and said levers.

8. A draft gear consisting of a casing, friction shoes within the casing having inwardly extending Wedge portions at their rear ends, a centrally arranged wedge engaging said portions, separable lever members engaging the friction shoes and said wedge, a drawbar connected with the casing,

and a reslstlng wedge member interposed between the dra'wbar and said levers.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto affix my signature.

JOHN F. COURSON. 

